All the latest news in the Weekly Wrap!
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CURRENT SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Capitol Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Eternity Playhouse: Once
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Muriel’s Wedding
State Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: School of Rock
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VICTORIA
Athenaem Theatre: Bring It On
Comedy Theatre: Come From Away
Princess Theatre: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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AROUND AUSTRALIAN THEATRES
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Helpmann Awards 2019
The 2019 edition of the Helpmann Awards took place over two nights (July 14th and 15th) at Melbourne’s Arts Centre.
Act 1 (Sunday, July 14th) saw the awards for Musical Theatre presented to Tony Sheldon (Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Elaine Crombie (Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role- Barbara and Camp Dogs), Ursula Yovich, Alana Valentine and Adm Ventoura (Best Original Score – Barbara and the Camp Dogs), Malik Le Nost and Mitchell Woodcock (Best Choreography in a Musical- Saturday Night Fever), Francesca Zambello (Best Direction of a Musical- Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story) and Neil Austin (Best Lighting Design- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) .
Performers for Act 1 included Rhonda Burchmore, Natalie O’Donnell and Ann Wood and Swing On This, featuring Michael Falzon, Matt Lee and Rob Mills.
Act 2 (Monday, July 15th) saw the remainder of the awards presented in a lavish ceremony at Melbourne’s Arts Centre. Brent Hill (School of Rock) won the award for Best Male Actor in a Musical while Ursula Yovich (Barbara and the Camp Dogs) won the award for Best Female Actor in a Musical. Finishing off a stellar evening for the team from Barbara and the Camp Dogs, they were awarded 2019 Best Musical.
Performers during the evening included the casts of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and School of Rock.
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Show Announcement: War Horse
The unforgettable theatrical spectacular, War Horse is set to return to Australian Theatres from January 2020. Based on the novel by Michael Mortpurgo, War Horse tells the story of courage, loyalty and friendship through the eyes of Albert and his horse Joey against the backdrop of World War I.
The moving story is told through stirring music and songs and features ground- breaking puppetry.
War Horse will play in Melbourne before moving to Sydney and Perth. For further information head to http://www.warhorseonstage.com/
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Cast Announcement: CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Hayes Theatre Co is thrilled to announce the cast of the Australian Premiere of the Olivier Award-winning musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE.
In the title role of Caroline Thibodeaux, the Gellman family’s maid, is Elenoa Rokobaro (The Book of Mormon). Elenoa returns to the Hayes Theatre Co. where she stunned audiences in Violet and Side Show. The role of 10-year-old Noah Gellman will be shared by two talented young actors making their Hayes Theatre Co debuts, Ryan Yeates (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and newcomer Daniel Harris. In the roles of Noah’s father Stuart Gellman and new stepmother Rose Stopnick Gellman are Andrew Cutcliffe (Darlinghurst Nights, The Dismissal) and Amy Hack (American Psycho). Making the switch from radio presenting on Triple J’s Roots ‘n All to musical theatre is Nkechi Anele who is playing the role of Emmie Thibodeaux, Caroline’s teenage daughter. Acclaimed screen and stage actor Tony Llewellyn Jones (She Loves Me) returns to the Hayes to play Rose’s father Mr Stopnick, while Helpmann Award Winner Genevieve Lemon (Billy Elliot) plays Grandma Gellman. Playing Caroline’s friends and companions are Ruva Ngwenya (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Emily Havea (Grounded), together with Elijah Williams (The Rolling Stone) and Alexandra Fricot (Spring Awakening).
Performances commence on August 23, 2019 tickets for the show and further information available at https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/caroline-or-change/
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Cast Announcement: Shrek
Tuesday, July 2nd saw the first cast members of Shrek the Musical announced ahead of performances which commence in January 2020 at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.
Portraying the kind spirit, fun loving Ogre, Shrek will be Packed to the Rafter’s Ben Mingay who has appeared on stage in many shows including The Phantom of the Opera and Jersey Boys. Princess by day and Ogre by night, the cursed Princess Fiona will be portrayed by Australian theatre star Lucy Durack who is most well known to Australian Theatre audiences as Glinda the Good Witch from WICKED.
Joining them on stage for the Sydney season as The Dragon will be special guest Marcia Hines. Further casting will be announced at a future date.
Tickets can be purchased for the Sydney season from https://shrekthemusical.com.au/ with wait lists available for Melbourne and Brisbane.
INSERT PHOTO- SHREK CAST
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Cast Announcement: Chicago
Iconic Australian entertainer, Tom Burlinson (The Producers) will portray lawyer Billy Flynn during the Sydney and Brisbane seasons of Chicago whilst J. Furtado (Hair) will play the somewhat eccentric reporter Mary Sunshine.
Tickets for Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney seasons are on sale now at https://chicagothemusical.com.au
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Real life Newfoundlanders and Plane People take to the stage of Come From Away
Based on true events regarding the kindness and love shown by the people from Gander, Newfoundland in Canada during the events of 9/11 and the subsequent landing of hundreds of planes from around the world, the award winning musical Come From Away opened on Saturday, July 13th at The Comedy Theatre in Melbourne.
Joining the Australian cast members on stage during the finale were the people of Gander and “the plane people” including Nick and Diane Marson whose meeting during their time in Gander and subsequent romance is featured as a sub plot. They are portrayed on stage by Australian actors Nathan Carter and Katrina Retallick.
Come From Away tickets are currently on sale until October 27th and can be purchased at https://comefromaway.com.au/
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Opening Night: School of Rock
Saturday, July 13th saw the high voltage, energetic Opening Night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock. With a cast lead by Brent Hill as Dewey Finn, Amy Lehpamer as Principal Rosalie Mullins and 12 amazingly talented 9-13 year old children whose talent is through the roof.
School of Rock is in Brisbane for a limited time only with the season closing on August 18th. Tickets are available from https://www.qpac.com.au/event/school_of_rock_19/
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Opening Night: Bring It On
Hit movie now stage musical Bring It On opened at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre this weekend. Bring It On runs in Melbourne until Saturday, July 27th before seasons in Perth and Sydney.
Tickets are available from https://bringitonthemusical.com.au
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Opening Night: Jack and the Beanstalk
Friday, July 12th saw Bonnie Lythgoe’s annual panto open at the newly re-opened State Theatre in Sydney.
The Jack and the Beanstalk cast include renowned musical theatre performers Lucy Durack and Luke Joslin.
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CELEBRATIONS
Show Milestones: Charlie celebrates 200 shows
Congratulations to the Company of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who on Friday, July 12th celebrated the performance of 200 shows. Congratulations also to Helpmann Award winning actor Tony Sheldon who has performed in all 200+ shows!
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Wedding: Bronte Florian and Blake Appelqvist
Congratulations to Australian musical theatre performers Bronte Florian (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kinky Boots) and Blake Appelqvist(Priscilla. Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots) on their wedding which was held on June 24th. We wish all the best together.
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OPENING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: Catch Me If You Can (July 19th)
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CLOSING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Eternity Playhouse: Once (July 21st)
State Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk (July 21st)
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VICTORIA
Athenaem Theatre: Bring It On (July 27th)
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AUSSIES ABROAD
Karli Dinardo
Congratulations to Karli Dinardo (West Side Story) who has recently made her Broadway Debut in Moulin Rouge. Dinardo who hails from Melbourne is a Swing as well as Dance Captain.
Tickets for Moulin Rouge can be purchased from https://moulinrougemusical.com/#tickets
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Clay Roberts
Clay Roberts (Matilda, Mamma Mia!) will play the lead role of Jack Kelly in Theatre By The Sea’s production of Newsies which runs from July 17th to August 10th.
Theatre By The Sea is a theatre and playhouse in Rhode Island, USA. The theatre was built in 1933 and is on the USA National Register of Historic Places.
